This Sunday, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, our very own Derek Pomerleau will box in the semi-finals of the Grand Prix tournament against Carlos Sinisterra.
The tournament, sanctioned by the WBC, offers a purse of 200,000 US dollars and the opportunity to fight for the WBC Silver belt during a major event in Riyadh.
While I personally named Derek Pomerleau as the big favorite from the start of the tournament, I must admit that the final four is quite stacked. At the request of Noé Cloutier, who’s overwhelmed with the amount of announcements he has to draft at EOTTM, I’m introducing the players in this final four.
Photo: IG – Derek Pomerleau
Derek Pomerleau vs Carlos Sinisterra
Nicknamed ‘Slick’ for his agility and counter-attacks—sharp and precise like a snake strike—Derek was named the favorite from the beginning of the tournament by experts like Laurent Poulin. His run has been spectacular: he outpointed the undefeated Liparit Ustian and knocked out Paul Ryan and Dmytro Rybalko.
Facing Carlos Sinisterra, he’s up against a boxer of the same age, same professional experience, same hunger for victory… and the same thirst for that prize money.
“I’m going to win the tournament” – Derek Pomerleau
Photo: Facebook – Derek Pomerleau
Carlos Sinisterra
After defeating Hajji Muhis and Dacong Wang in the first two stages of the tournament, Carlos faced a massive challenge: the undefeated French boxer Ephrem Bariko. The second round looked like a trip through hell for the Colombian—caught in the ropes too often, repeatedly hit. Then, in the third round, still on the ropes, it took just one punch to flip the script. He stunned the Frenchman, leaving the referee no choice but to stop the fight.
That’s what makes this fight so intriguing: Pomerleau is too strong for Carlos Sinisterra, but he can’t afford the slightest mistake against a puncher of this caliber.
Photo: IG – Carlos Sinisterra
Dylan Biggs vs Lancelot Proton de la Chapelle
This is the other semi-final of the tournament in the middleweight division. The Australian boxer combines explosive power, speed, and technique. Very confident, Australians like to believe he’s their country’s next international star.
Lancelot Proton de la Chapelle, or ‘The Last Knight’, didn’t get the chance to compete in the Olympics due to a scalp injury. He’s a punch-throwing machine: jab, uppercut, hook—it’s all there. His reach is quite short, which forces him to close the distance and go to war in every fight. He’s the pride of Normandy and, even if he’s not the favorite, he’s come out victorious every time since the start of the tournament.
Photo: Paris Normandie – Lancelot Proton de la Chapelle
Other Fights to Watch
In the heavyweight division, Keaton Gomes and Ahmed Krnjic have racked up KOs since the tournament began. Only Krnjic needed to go to the judges once. The South African, nicknamed ‘The Destroyer’, keeps saying he’ll win the tournament by knocking everyone out. The Bosnian Ahmed Krnjic, who steps into the ring at over 270 pounds and has extensive kickboxing experience, doesn’t seem at all impressed by his opponent’s KO percentage. This might be the fight that steals the show this Sunday.
Uzbek Mujibillo Tursunov is the best boxer in this tournament. In the toughest division, he has faced experienced boxers such as Michael Adedosun (9-1-1), Alan Ezequiel Dutra (15-1-1), and Misael Cabrera Urias (17-2-1). Each time, he came out on top. He now faces Danylo Lozan (15-0), a brave Ukrainian who split his face open from a headbutt in his last fight.
Photo: IG – Ouzbek Mujibillo Tursunov
On the Podcast
Richard ‘Popeye’ Rivera will be in Gatineau to face Imam Khataev, a perfect opponent with a 27-2 record and 20 wins by KO. He deserved a better fate than a split-decision loss to Badou Jack and is trained by John Scully.
Arslanbek Makhmudov knows how to box, and he showed it against Dave Allen. We hope he gets picked to face Anthony Joshua. He has a real shot at winning—and landing the payday of a lifetime.
Photo: ProBox TV – Richard ‘Popeye’ Rivera
Artur Beterbiev mysteriously pulled out of his fight against Deon Nicholson scheduled for November 22. Why not match him against Dmitry Bivol in Russia, at the Luzhniki Stadium, which can hold 78,000 spectators, at the start of 2026? That’s been the plan of IBA President Umar Kremlev for some time now, and it’s likely the Russian government would financially support the event.
